Pumpkin Eater Turns Two

While this is Peter's second birthday, it is probably the first birthday he's been able to celebrate. It's hard to believe that it was just a year ago that we were gearing up for our trip to bring this little guy home. We've seen that serious look on his face quite a bit this first year, but every day it's there a little less. For the most part we get smiles now unless he's somewhere unfamiliar, or if everyone is looking at him. 

Each day we see more of his personality emerging. Yesterday while trying to dress the crew of boys, he had already been changed and dressed, but when he saw the changing pad out and heard me call Joseph he came running and quickly laid down. When he heard my reaction he gave out the most mischievous little laugh. He's going to be a little prankster. He's also a little climber and has some serious flexibility to go with that little build. He and Juju have some incredible gymnastic skills. Unlike Juju, Peter has little fear.

As the third little boy, he's going to need these skills to negotiate with his older brothers. This threesome certainly keeps me on my toes. 

Peter is all about food. He doesn't tolerate being hungry and boy is he ever particular. He especially likes sweets and snacks. He wants to be just like his brothers and often asks to sit at the table at meal time. It was amusing to watch him try to tackle pizza. 

How blessed we are to have this sweet, quiet, special boy. He melts my heart with his infectious laugh, his desire to be loved, and his crazy antics. I am so thankful he was given to our family. What an amazing gift. 

My Christmas Miracle

I've not been faithful at keeping up the blog. I'd like to say it is a new year's resolution, but the truth is life with so many little ones often gets in the way of blogging. I wish I could get to it more. I like remembering the life we've lived. God willing I'll post more, that's just the best I can do.

See this little one... 

She just celebrated her first Christmas. It was beautiful. She had a little cough, ok a big cough that had me worried. Still, by Christmas, she was her smiling beautiful self.

It reminded me that last Christmas was very different. A year ago I went from feeling overwhelmed at the thought of a new baby to immeasurable grief when I thought we'd lost her. Then feelings of elation when I saw that sweet little heartbeat on the ultrasound monitor. How blessed am I to have had this year with her.

You can read that story here.

Double Digits

It's hard for me to believe this little girl is no longer a little girl. My sweet Catie Bear is already a decade. 

 

It seems like this was just yesterday. She and I spent a whole week together in the hospital. It was December, we were new in town and knew no one, Dad and Hannah got the flu while we were there, so it was just the two of us. We needed that week because life was a whirlwind after that. We moved one week later, and this little one just was her own little whirlwind. Always on the go. She walked the earliest, she took more risks, she needed more cuddling, she was well... Catie Bear. 

When trying to find a gift for her birthday, I had thoughts of a pogo stick. I was doing some research and after settling on one, I read the first review which talked of a kid knocking their teeth out. I sent the link to dh to ask his opinion of the gift. He sent back a text saying, "It sounds fun, and dangerous, and strangely just like the perfect gift for Bear." It was too. She goes out into the garage after finishing homework and bounces and bounces and bounces. She's also our current jump rope champion with over 300 jumps. No one seems to be able to match her energy. 

She made a cute little page in her Christmas pageant at school. Her wacky sense of humor suited the part well. I love the look on her face as she sneaks a peak at her family watching in the audience. School has been an interesting transition for my dear Catie. She is such a smart girl and has been working a year ahead since starting Kindergarten at four. This was never a problem homeschooling which allowed me to work at her pace. When we made the decision to put her in school I struggled with where she should be placed. She is the age of a fourth grader, but doing well as a fifth grader. The school combines two grades so she is in a 5/6 classroom and while she is hanging in academically, I can tell she feels out of place sometimes. Thankfully, the school is wonderful, the teachers, the students, the families, and I look forward to next year when Catie will be in a class with students her age.

My talented sister put together a photo booth for Catie's birthday party. We made little dry erase boards and the girls had such a fun time writing little sayings and getting their pictures taken. I am so thankful for the help of sisters and good friends for my girls. I am also so eternally grateful for the gift of sweet Catie Bear. How blessed I am to play a part in her life.

Dignity and Dirty Towels

A few weeks ago, we were bathing the kids (which we do on Saturday nights whether they need it or not). In many ways this has become an assembly line. Someone undressing them, someone bathing them, another diapers them, then someone else dresses them in their pajamas. While it is fairly organized, it's chaotic too. Trying to accomplish anything with five kids under five is bound to be chaotic. During the hullaballoo, there was a shout for the towels taken downstairs. Not wanting more laundry than necessary, I asked the two-year-old to take the towels to his sister in the bathroom. He was struggling and going pretty slow on the stairs so I sent the twelve-year-old as reinforcements. She promptly grabbed all the towels and diligently ran up the stairs, leaving the two-year-old crying in her wake.

When things settled down before evening prayers, I began to explain to the twelve-year-old that perhaps a better way to handle the situation would have been to let the little one carry one towel and taken the rest. Alternatively, she could have let him hold the towels and then pick him up and "fly" him up the stairs. It was clear he wanted the joy of helping, and it was snatched from him when she took the towels.

Dh, with so much wisdom, chimed in that this is exactly what God does for us. He has no need of our works, he has no need of our help, and yet he gives us the opportunity to chose to work for him. It would be nothing for him to get the towels up the stairs, but he gives us the opportunity to help. He allows us to find true dignity in working for his kingdom. We are the two-year-olds struggling with simple tasks and he gives us wings, and he helps us with the towels, he doesn't do it for us or snatch the towels, because then we would be deprived of the blessing. God, the ultimate father, allows us his children to work alongside of him. With eternal patience he watches as we fumble through tasks much like a child who wants to help. If we remain childlike in our acceptance of the job he gives us, what joy we find in doing these tasks, even in something as little as taking a towel upstairs. 

I feel that joy each time I look at the faces of my children. They are my "little towels" to bring to the father. Caring for them, changing diapers, washing dishes, laundry, endlessly picking up, and the million other tasks that are part of motherhood can sometimes seem like a heavy burden. I sometimes struggle to get them up the stairs. Like the two-year-old, there are others better at the task. Still, I am blessed to have this calling. I am asked to be childlike in the acceptance of the work being given me and to find the inherent dignity in it.

When society tells us it's too much, it's too hard, it's not worth it. I want to shout about the joy children bring. I want to tell them I don't have to do it alone, I have a father in heaven, a mother in the Church, and brothers and sisters to help me.  It's not easy work dragging these towels up the stairs, but the reward is too much to miss. The smile of my heavenly father thanking me for doing this small task. Him picking me up and making me feel valued. I must be thankful for each of the opportunities to love and work for his kingdom.

Why I am not a photographer

You'd think with my fancy schmancy camera and eight kids to practice on, I'd eventually be an expert at getting good baby shots. You'd be wrong though. I spent quite some time trying to get a good 3 month picture of baby Ellie smiling. Yes, believe it or not, this little one is already three whole months old. She brings us such joy and smiles so often I thought for sure I'd be able to capture it.

I waited until too late in the evening, so the lighting is terrible.

At first she just looked at me like I was some kind of crazy woman and the black camera just mesmerized her.

Then we were photo-bombed by Joseph.

When I finally got a smile, I didn't have the camera ready.

Then all the little siblings wanted in on the action.

My favorite picture with her sweet smile, but my camera focused on her onesie.

This was when I decided to call it a wrap and let Aunt Amy try later.

The Baptism of Mary Elizabeth

"You see how many are the benefits of baptism, and some think its heavenly grace consists only in the remission of sins, but we have enumerated ten honors it bestows! For this reason we baptize even infants, though they are not defiled by personal sins, so that there may be given to them holiness, righteousness, adoption, inheritance, brotherhood with Christ, and that they may be Christ’s members"
-- St. John Chrysostom (Baptismal Catecheses in Augustine, Against Julian 1:6:21 [A.D. 388]).

It took us awhile to get everything lined up for the baptism of our eighth little one, but it was God's timing and a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Little Mary Elizabeth was welcomed into the Church on Sunday September 23. I know it's taken me awhile to get this post out too. These days it seems to take me awhile to do most anything. :)

How blessed I am to have this man as the most wonderful husband there could possibly be. He loves the memory of his grandfather at a family gathering looking around and remarking, "Look what Lil and I started." I have visions of dh saying those same words some day. I never imagined we'd baptize eight children, I'm sure he didn't either. I'm so thankful my children have him as a father, that they see him really live his faith. He is a gift to me and them.

Is there any sweeter smell than that of a new baby christened with holy oils? I really don't think so. The hope new babies and baptism bring to our world all mingle together in that beautiful scent. God gives us so many wonderful gifts.

I can't help but post this picture of the baptismal gown my talented sister took after the baptism. I've posted about it before, but it means so much to me. The gown has been worn by most of our children (Joseph and Peter were too big) and was made by Sophia's godmother from a piece of my wedding gown.

Our first picture with all the new family members. How blessed we truly are. 

Apple Picking

Oh, the Lord is good to me,

And so I thank the Lord

For giving me the things I need:

The sun, and the rain, and the apple seed;

The Lord is good to me.

--Johnny Appleseed Blessing--